Contributions of Primary Production to the Economy of Ghana

Ghana depends on primary production to boost its economy. It contributes to the countrys economy through the following:

• Employment: The primary industries together employ over 65% of the working population in Ghana. These various industries serve as employment and help people to earn income to improve their lives.

Majority of the people at the rural areas are farmers and fishermen.

• Foreign exchange: Most of the the primary industries in Ghana such as timber industry, cocoa industry, mining industry etc., do not process or add value to their raw materials. Their raw materials are exported to other countries and this earns the country foreign exchange.

• Raw materials: Some of the industries process or add value to the raw materials from the primary industries.

For example, cocoa beans obtained from the Cocoa industries are processed by some companies such as Cocoa Processing Company into chocolates etc.

• Food supply: Primary production provides the country with food. These foods are obtained from farms, animal and fishes.

Majority of Ghanaians feed on farm products such as maize, cocoyam, cassava, plantain etc.

Revenue: The primary industries in Ghana include; timber industry, cocoa industry, fishing industry, mining industry etc. All these industries pay monies to the government in the form of taxes or levies. These monies are called revenues and they are used for developmental projects in the country.